Letter to the Editor: Shut off the pipelines and let the sun shine!
By Letters to the editor
Dear Editor,
When BC needs to declare a state of emergency because the wildfires in the Okanagan are “creating their own weather system” —which includes creating lightening and flames beyond anything firefighters have ever seen— it is well overdue to declare a state of emergency on our energy system. This extreme weather is due to climate change from the use of fossil fuels; that’s the gas in your car and the natural gas heating your house. The burning of fossil fuels creates a pollution blanket around the earth that traps the sun’s heat drying out the trees and ground cover, altering water systems and causing extreme weather events. This hot , dry ground cover and hot wind make the earth vulnerable to these wildfires.
I am a retired nurse and understand the impacts of stress, polluted air and extreme heat on human bodies. This is a massive tragedy for all the people involved in evacuating their homes and experiencing the stress and terror of this kind of situation. It is a severe health emergency for all in this province who are inhaling the air which is highly polluted with toxic wildfire smoke. And it is an unforgivable crime of the fossil fuel companies, who knew this kind of thing would happen many years ago and continued to develop their product.
Unfortunately our governments who continue to develop the fossil fuel infrastructure by planning new pipelines are unwitting accomplices to this crime, when their job is to protect us, their citizens.
It is beyond disturbing to continue using fossil fuels when we have this knowledge and are watching the consequences in real time.
Please Shut off the pipes and let the sun shine! Solar, wind, hydro and batteries are fantastic, affordable and available alternatives. This wildfire emergency was not inevitable, and an even bleaker future is not inevitable. We are smart enough to have developed these alternatives—now let’s please be smart enough to transition into using them everywhere, now.
Judith Fearing
Nelson BC
